Vehicle-tire



El STERNS.V

'VEHICLE URE.' AFPLCATION FILED MAR. 6, 19X?.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OiiiFlC.

EDWARD STERNS, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

SURETY TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, OF IVILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

VEHICLE-TIRE.

Application filed March 6, 1917.

T 0 @ZZ whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, Emvano S'rnnNs, a citizen of the United States, and residing at St. Louis, in the .State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vehicle-Tires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle tires, and more particularly, to tires embodying a cas-v ing and an inner tube.

In U. S. Patent No. 1,218,486, .March 6, 1917, I have shown and described a vehicle tire embodying an inflatable inner' tube comprising a body material having the characteristics of rubber and a reinforcing material joined together to form an integral structure, the tube wall increasing in thickness from the inner to the outer circumference of the tube. The reinforcing material is arranged to permit transverse expansion of the tube. The reinforcing material is also arranged in spaced layers embedded in the body material, so as to form a structure in which punctures are not only prevented, but any punctures which are formed are self-closing.

Some of the objects of this invention are to provide a special form of inner tube of the character shown and described in the patent referred to, in which means are provided for permitting transverse expansion of the tube along its side walls.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a section through a vehicle tire embodying this invention, and showing the tire inflated;

Fig. 2 is a section similar to Fig. 1, but showing the tire partially compressed;

Fig. 3 is a. side elevation of the deflated inner tube; and

Fig. et is a section on the line 4 4., Fig. 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, l designates a wheel felly provided with a rim 2 adapted to receive a casing 3. The wheel, rim and casing may be of any suitable constructions, the casing being 1n this case of the clencher type.

The inner tube 7, provided with a valve stem 8 of usual construction, is, as in lthe patent referred to, formed of a body material of inner tube rubber, or of a suitable material having the characteristics of rubber, and the wall thickness increases from Specification of Letters Patent.

granted- Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

seria1 No. 152,903.

the inner to the outer circumference of the tube. The body material has also embedded therein, to form an integral structure, spaced layers 10 and 1 1 of a reinforcing material, such as sea island cotton. In accordance with this invention, however, the layers 10 and 1l extend uninterruptedly transversely along the walls or" the tube. New, as pointed out in the patent referred to, it is necessary that an inner tube be cxpansible to conform to and form a suitable backing forthe casing. In accordance with this invention, therefore, the tube is thickened to form inward projections or ribs 12 along the sides and at diametrically opposed points, and the layers of fabric 10 and 11 are arranged to follow the inside walls of the tube and the projecting ridges 12.

When the tube is inflated the tube walls cannot stretch transversely where the reinforcing layers parallel the outer surface of the tube, since` the fabric is inelastic. Inflation of the tube under a pressure of seventyfive (75) pounds will however, straighten out the reinforcement paralleling the ridges 12, the rubber stretching at these points as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which show the tube inflated, so that when the tube is fully inflated the reinforcing layers will conform transversely to the outer surface of the tube and form a wall of increasing thickness from the inner to the outer circumference of the tube. With this construction, therefore, the expansion is distributed equally along the sides of the tube, so that thetube will be in a proper condition for use.

With this tube, as in the patent referred to, a layer of rubber is imprisoned between the layers of fabric, and puncturing of the tube will, therefore, cause the rubber imprisoned between the two non-elastic layers of fabric to close any puncture which may be formed. It will be noted that the stretch of the rubber will come at the sides, where the danger of puncturing is remote, and where the only damage done is cuts or gashes which do not penetrate the tube. The compensating ridges are, however, placed in a position removed from the tread where all' of the puncturing takes place. In this tire also the breaking lines of the tube correspend to the breaking lines of the casing.

It is obvious that various changes may be made 4in the details of construction without departing from'the .sp/irit of this invention,

and it is to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not to be limited to the s ieei'lic details shownV and described.

Having thus described the invention.v` what is claimed is l. In a vehicle tire, the employment of an inflatable inner tube of elastic material haiL ing combined therewith at the tread thereoi" layers et inelastic material disposed in axially spaced relation to confine a punctureclosing layer ot' the elastic material therebetween and adapted and arranged to permit transverse expansion of the Vtube at the lside thereof: but prevent expansion of the confined elastic material at the tread: substantially as and for the purpose set itorth.

VIn a vehicle tire, the employment of an nfiatable inner tube of elastic material harini)T combined therewith at the tread thereof layers ot' inelastic material disposed Yin axially spaced relation to confine puncture closing; layer of the elastic material there between and adapted and arranged to permit transverse expansion or' the tube at -zli'ametrically opposed points but prevent expansion of the confined elastic material at the tread, substantially as and 'for the purpose set forth.

3. In a vehicle tire, the employment of an inflatable inner tube of elastic material vhaving,r combined therewith at the tread thereof uninterrupted layers of inelastic material disposed in axially spaced relation to conine a puncture-closing layer of the elastic mameneer terial therebetween and adapted and arranged to permit transverse expansion ci' the tube but prevent expansion ot the conned elastic material at the tread, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.l

e. ln a vehicle tire, the employment oiI a ini'iatable inner tube otelastic material having a thickened tread and having combined therewith uninterrupted layers oi" .inelastic material disposed in axially spaced relation at the tread to confine a puncture-cios layer of the elastic material therebe said inelastic layers extending` from the 'n rim.transversely around the treadv` adapted. to permit transverse expansion ot the tube but preventexpansion of the confined i"'iic material at the tr ad, substantially as i I for the purpose set iioith.

5. ln a vehicle tire, the employment ot an inflatable inner tube ot ii'ubber increasiiw in thickness from the .tire rim toY the eau and having` embedded tl'iereiu fabric strips cx- ,tending lin uninterrupted circuits transversely around the tube vand disposed in axially spaced relation at the tread to ceniine a puncture-closing layer ol' the rubi f therebetween, said fabric strips being adapted topermit transverse expansion et the i u be at the sides thereof substantially as and 'for the purpose set forth. Y In' testimony Whereoi'l aiiix my signature this 8th day ot July, 1916. f

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